§ Rev. Martin Smythasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to provide continuing financial support for the Northern Ireland voluntary trust after present arrangements end on 31 March 1984.
§ Mr. Chris PattenYes. I am satisfied that the present arrangements, under which the Government undertook to match private contributions to the trust £1 for £1 up to a maximum of £250,000 by 31 March 1984 have proven their worth. As a result of a very successful fund raising campaign in Great Britain the target of £250,000 from private sources, attracting matching grant from the Government, is likely to be reached early next year.
To sustain and expand its range of activity, the trust wishes to develop its capital base still further and proposes shortly to launch further fund-raising campaigns within the United Kingdom and abroad, including North America. Building on the present arrangements, I am pleased to announce that the Government will extend the £1 for £1 scheme for a further period of 4 years up to 31 March 1988, subject to a ceiling of an additional £500,000 in matching grants from public funds.